Rating  - Works great, but worried about problems to come
This is the first real receiver that I've bought. Despite reading about all the problems in the avsforum.com "x54 problems and solutions" thread for this product, I have not had any of the serious problems listed there, although I do forsee some. This receiver loses the HDMI handshake VERY quickly, so I can see why sound would often cut out. For instance, the PS3 menu clicks do not work. And when a game starts on the PS3, it takes a few seconds of the intro before sound starts coming through. I have not played any games with silent parts in them yet, but I'm told that this receiver will cut off the sound and not return it (metal gear solid 4 is an example).
Just yesterday, after about 3 weeks of use, my AVR254 started making a loud hum/pop sound on startup. It does not go through the speakers - it just kinda sounds like that electrical sound that would happen when you turned on a really old tube TV. I'm gonna call HK asap to find out what's wrong.
Overall, the excellent interface and nice asthetics of the unit itself make it worth it to deal with the problems presented by this receiver.
Rating  - Does everything it is supposed to do.
I purchased this receiver because of the exceptional sound quality, sleek aesthetics, and price. It has done everything that I had expected it do. I have not experienced any of the problems that been listed in the other comments here. My situation is a little different though, I dont have any video passing through the receiver, and it seems like that may be bypassing some of the issues that currently plague some people. I also use my computer as a HTPC and I view my blu-rays and hd-dvds from my computer. Whether I have received a good apple, or the others have received a rotten one, I dont know, and I dont really care, because it works exactly how it should work with zero hiccups, and it sounds incredible!
Rating  - Great - excepnt HDMI connectivity is broken
Love HK - bought this unit when my other HK finally died after 10 years. Unfortunatly, the HDMI system doesn't work very will. 1st problem is that it has a hard time switching between audio formats as you change channels. The 2nd problem is that there are times where I pause, rewind, etc... and the audio doesn't work until after I switch inputs or restart the receiver. 3rd, it turns off my TV sometimes (Samsung) - no idea how that happens.
Rating - Good But, just like any other receiver has some bugs!
If your going to be listening to music and movies this is the receiver to buy bar none. As the review below points out a lot of short comings and faults I found I had more issues with the Denon unit, which doesn't even come with pre/outputs and I wish it did because I think there Amp section is lacking. I also had issues with HDMI with Denon/Onkyo/Pioneer you name it, everyone seems to have there own idea of what a spec is for HDMI. ;) The unit is built well and the lights on the unit can be turned off via the menu. Very easy to setup, if you can read ;) Again if you should have a HDMI problem exchange it or try another brand, pretty simple, so far no issues really worth mentioning yet, but then again I am too busy enjoying the movies and listening to great music to find any faults yet.
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Customer Reviews for Harman Kardon,AVR 254,028292506208,0028292506208,B0016BGRX6, |
